Bath-tub.



1. vAuDREugL` BATH TUB. APPLICATION FILED FEB-12| 1917.

1 ,246, 1 90. Pateited Nov.. 13, 1917.

- .1 @m OUVISLM @MotM/wy l1 L ,f I r y /w JOHN VAUDREUIL, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN'.

BATH-TUB.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

Application led February 12, 1917. Serial No. 148,012.

To all rwhom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN VAUnREmL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath- Tubs; and -I do hereby declare that the foilowing is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

This invention relates .to bathroom {ixtures, more particularly to new and improved construction in bath tubs.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a bath tub having an improved arrangement of spray pipes whereby the user may spray water or other liquids upon himself while seated within the tub.

A secondary object is to provide a tank in connection with the improved tub which is so constructed that it may contain salt for mixing with the water which flows into the interior of the tube and thereby supply the user with a salt bath.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement similar reference characters indicate likev parts in all of the views, the numeral 1 denotes a bath tub of any ordinary or preferred construction, the same having the usual feet 2 for spacing it above the floor. In carrying out the invention, I provide the upright wall 3 of the tub with a plurality of rows of openings, a pair of said rows designated by the numerals 4 and 5 being arranged substantially parallel to each other and horizontally, while the other rowsy 6 are disposed vertically and between the rows 4 and 5. It will be noted that all of these rows of openings are positioned at one end of the tub, preferably that remote from the end in which the water ordinarily enters. The

rows 5 are continued as shown in 5 from the rst mentioned end to the latter end of the tub.

A plurality of spray pipes 7, 7 and 8 are secured to the outer surface of the wall 8, preferably being formed integrally with the tub and of the same material. These spray pipes communicate with the rows of openings and provide means for conveying water from the source of supply to the interior of the tub, said water being delivered 1n the form of a ne spray as in the case of an ordinary overhead shower. In Fig. 1 1t 'will be seen that the pipe 7 communicates with the rows of openings designated by the numerals 5 and 5 and the pipe 7 is connected with the openings 4, while the pipes 8, which are arranged substantially vertically, communicate with the rows of openlngs 6. All of these pipes are connected with each other so that the water flows from the inlet end of the pipe 7 throughout the interior of allthe other pipes, and said water is forced from all of the openings in the wall 3 with equal force.

A supply tank 9 is preferably used in connection with the other features of my invention, said tank being usually mounted at the inlet end of the tub, and preferably formed integrally .therewith as shown in Fig. 2. The bottom of the ytank is provided with an outlet opening 10 through which the water is conveyed from the tank to the plpe 7 by means of a valved pipe 11, the valve in which is of ordinary construction,

. the plug 12 having the usual opening 13, the

flow of water therethrough being controlled by a handle 14 connected to said plug. Hot and cold water enters the top of the tank 9 through the usual hot and cold water pipes designated broadly by the numeral 15, the ow from which is controlled by one or more valves connected to the handle or handles 16.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the hot and cold water after entering the tank 9 is thoroughly mixed and distributed at the proper temperature through the spray pipes and into the tub, the iiow from the tank 9 being controlled by the above mentioned valve in the pipe 1l. If it is considered desirable, water may be run directly from the hot and cold water pipes 15 directly to the inlet pipe 11 below the valve therein without passing through the tank 9. This is accomplished by providing a I three way valve 25 between the valves in the hot and cold water pipes and the inlet of said tank as shown in Fig. 3. One part of this valve communicates with the inlet pipe of the sup ly tank, another being connected with the pipes 15 and a third with a branch pipe or by-pass 26. This branch pipe communicates with the pipe 11 below the valve therein, thus cutting out the supply tank entirely.

Under certain conditions it is desired that salt or other chemicals be added to the water in which a person is bathing. In such a case the ordinary prepared sea salt or other chemicals are placed in the tank 9 through a supplemental inlet opening 17, the same being normally closed by a screw cap 18. A foraminous plate 19, preferably of wire gauze, covers the opening 10 in the bottom of the tank and prevents the salt or like matter passing through the opening in a solid form. It is obvious that as the water passes through the tank, more or less of the salt will be dissolved and carried with this water when it enters the bath tub. This arrangement provides a very simple method of evenly distributing salt throughout the wa- 'ter in'which a person may wish to bathe. If the water which is being passed through the supply of salt in the tank does not dissolve a suflicient amount of said salt, the valve of the pipe 11 may be closed and the salt contained in the tank allowed to remain therein with a sufficient quantity of water, for a considerable length of time before the tub is to be used for bathing. Or a person may take an ordinary bath with plain water by turning the three way valve 25 in the proper direction to permit the water to flow through the branch pipe 26. After a sulficient quantity of salt is dissolved, the valve 25 may be closed and the valve in the pipe 11 opened to permit the salt solution to flow through the openings in the wall of the tub in the same manner'that the plain water is forced therefrom. This solution may be forcibly ejected from the openings in the wall of the tub by means of compressed air which is supplied to the tank from an apparatus which will be later particularly described.

Still another use may be made of this supply tank 9, for instance, if a person bathing desires to spray himself with perfumed water, or the like, the same is placed in said tank through the opening 17. Before, however, placing this perfumed water within the tank, the plug 12 is rotated to close the pipe 11, and after it has been placed therein, compressed air is added in order that the liquid may be forcibly ejected from the various openings in the wall of the tub in the form of fine spray or vapor. In the present instance the means for supplying this com- 55 pressed air is mounted directlyupon the tank 9 and consists of an ordinary compressed air pump 20, the lower endof which is screw threaded for engagement with the screw threads in the socket of a boss 21, the bottom of said socket communicating with the interior of the tank by means of a passageway 22. Upon reciprocation of the plunger of said pump 20, the air under suflicient pressure will be forced into said tank 9 and thereby accomplish the desired purpose.

connection with the accompan ing drawing it will be seen that a very simp y constructed bath tub has been produced which is provided with novel means for passing various soluble materials and the like to the water as it is sprayed from the openings in the wall of the tub. The peculiar arrangement of the spray openings permits the persons body to be thoroughly sprayed while he is seated within the tub, thereby doing away with the necessity of providing an additionalshower with a tub of ordinary construction.

What is claimed 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a receptacle having a i lurality of substantially parallel horizontal y disposed rows of openings extending through the wall thereof at one end, said receptacle also having a plurality of substantially parallel vertically disposed rows of openings positioned between said horizontal rows, a plurality of horizontally and vertically arranged spray pipes communicating with said openings and connected to each other, and means for supplying liquid to said pipes.

2. The combination with a receptacle of a liquid supply tank, a valved outlet from the bottom of the tank and communicating with the interior of the receptacle, a foraminous plate covering the outlet in the bottom of the tank, and a valved inlet into said tank whereby to control the flow of liquid there- 'int0, said supply tank also having a supplemental filling opening therein.

3.- An apparatus of the class described comprising a receptacle', a supply tank fixed to the wall thereof, a socketed boss on said tank, the socket therein communicating with the interior of the tank, a compressed air pump having one end disposed in said boss, a valved inlet into the upper end of the tank and a valved outlet from the bottom of the tank to the 'interior of said receptacle, said tank also having a supplemental filling opening in its top.

el. An apparatus of the class described comprising a receptacle, a supply tank fixed to the wall thereof, an inlet control valve connected to the top of the tank, a three-way valve disposed between said control valve and the tank, a valved outlet pipe from the bottom of the tank to the interior of said receptacle, a by-pass pipe extending from From the foregoing description 'taken in the three-Way valve to said outlet pipe, a have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in socketed boss on said tank, the socket therein the county of Milwaukee and State of Wiscommunicating with the interior ofthe tank', cousin, '1n the presence of a witness. and a compressed air pump having one end 5 disposed in said boss, said tank also having JOHN VAUDREUIL a supplemental filling opening in its top. Witness:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I FRANK L. RATCLIFFE. 

